10 Strange Mental Disorders That You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Cheryl Brite August 18th 2016 Health

The world is filled with people suffering from multiple types of mental disorders. We are familiar with the more popular mental disorders such as depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. However, there are many disorders that we are not familiar with. We've compiled a list of the most rare and unknown mental disorders in the world today. Check it out!

1. Stockholm Syndrome

You develop a relationship with your captor regardless of the horrible things they have put you through. It's so ironic that it's interesting. How can you ever have sympathy for someone that is hurting you? Domestic violence, rape, and child abuse are some of the instances where Stockholm Syndrome occurs. What a horrible way to live? If you really think about, Beauty and the Beast displays this syndrome through the character Belle.

Stockholm Syndrome has been seen as a type of traumatic bonding where the individual becomes a victim, so they can cope with the situation at hand. When the victim coincides their values with the aggressor, the victim is seen as less of a threat. Symptoms of this syndrome include positive feelings towards captor, negative feelings towards rescuers, supporting the captor, and the desire of the victim not to be rescued. The effects of Stockholm doesn't end when your time with the captor is over. You still care about your captor even when they're locked up. Psychiatric help and the support of family will help you get through this traumatic time in your life.

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2. Lima Syndrome

The captor has sympathy for the hostages and does what they can to make them feel comfortable. Well if you're ever held captive, you can only hope you're lucky enough to get the one who has Lima Syndrome. What makes this syndrome interesting is that you don't normally think of a captor as someone who cares about their hostages. You usually think of a captor as someone who only cares about their own well being. It just doesn't make sense to you. Well it makes sense to the captor.

Lima Syndrome is usually the person in charge of the whole hostage situation. They don't want to hurt innocent people. They set out to get what they want without any casualties. This syndrome came to light because of the abduction of the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Lima, Peru in 1996. Jail time is a likely possibility even if your intentions where to not harm your captors because you're still committing a crime. Psychiatric care is how a person can get better in no time.

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3. Diogenes Syndrome

This syndrome occurs when you neglect yourself. You want to be alone with your hoarding. It can be found in people in old age. You're deteriorating in your own filth. What an awful way to live your life? Help is out there, but you have to want it in order to receive it.

Diogenes Syndrome also involves apathy and lack of shame of the situation you're in. This syndrome is created out of stress that you experience much later in life. You're possessive of what's around you, and there maybe some damage to your prefrontal area of the brain that make decisions. It doesn't necessarily effect people in poverty because people from a stable household can have this syndrome. You're smart, but you can be aggressive, stubborn, suspicious of others, unpredictable in your mood wings, unstable in your emotions, and have a deformed perception of reality. As a patient your unhealthy lifestyle needs to be changed dramatically so your well being can be taken care of by maturing your physical and mental state as well as being socialized.

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4. Paris Syndrome

This disorder is quite unusual, and you've probably never heard of it unless you're a professional. Paris Syndrome occurs when a Japanese tourist like yourself goes to Paris and experiences a mental breakdown. A lot of people suffer from this syndrome and have had to return home because they don't feel well. They can't deal with how different this culture is from theirs, and they shut down as a result. It's very unfortunate. How can you ever get over this syndrome?

Paris Syndrome symptoms include acute delusional states, hallucinations, feelings of persecution, aggression, anxiety, sweating, and so much more. The French and Japanese language is so different from one another and the meaning and substance when the language is translated can be confusing to the Japanese. French language is so informal while Japanese language is formal, and some Japanese people can't seem to get past it. The reality of the images of Japan are so ingrained that the images of Paris can't be reconciled. As a visitor to Paris you've spent so much time overbooking, suffering from jet lag, and cramming to many experiences in Paris, and jet lag, that you're so exhausted and psychological spent. Through bed rest and hydration you will be as good as new.

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5. Stendhal Syndrome

Don't stare at a painting too long. You never know how it will effect your mind. Rapid heartbeat, confusion, and hallucinations occur when you are exposed to beautiful paintings or the beauty of the world. It doesn't sound so bad until you experiences the side effects of this syndrome. What an usual mental disorder? How can a beautiful piece of art or the beauty of the world bring out the worst in you?

Stendhal Syndrome also known as hyperkulturemia, not only creates physical symptoms but psychological and emotional reactions to art. The syndrome commonly occurs in the art of Florence, Italy. It is advised by experts to not take to much art in when visiting Florence. Include sporting events and dinning into your time of viewing art as to be not to overwhelmed by the art. The syndrome is created by trying to experience too many things at one time. You develop stressful symptoms that you have to be hospitalized for and antidepressants along with therapy will return you to your normal self.

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6. Jerusalem Syndrome

When Homer Simpson went to Jerusalem, he experienced this syndrome. This syndrome occurs when people come to Jerusalem and are triggered with psychotic delusions, constant religious ideas, and other experiences that don't last for a long period of time. Usually people who travel to Jerusalem all ready have some kind of mental disorder before they even arrive. At least it isn't a life long disorder like the others on this list. You'll be fine in a couple of weeks. Thank goodness!

The Jerusalem Syndrome happens, and you suddenly believe you are God or someone from the Bible. Many people have thought they were John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, and the Messiah. People who practice Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are affected by this syndrome. The syndrome was found by Dr. Yair Bar-El and has been treated in many patients. You don't have to have a mental disorder to experience Jerusalem Syndrome because you can be sane one minute and in an hour later be walking the desert, believing your are someone you're not. With time, medical care, and drugs the delusion will wear off

7. Capgras Delusion

You believe your loved ones have been replaced by an identical looking impostor. It can occur beside other mental disorders like schizophrenia. Paranoia is also a factor in Capgras Delusion, and this mental disorder has inspired many books and movies. This has to be a frightening delusion to live with on a daily basis, never knowing if your spouse or family member are who they say they are. It can be an overwhelming way to live. You can;t trust anyone.

Capgras Delusion is a class of delusion where you not only misidentify people but places and objects as well. Acute, transient, or chronic are some of the forms this delusion occurs in. It can happen in people who have a brain injury, dementia, and have a neurodegenerative disease. Therapy can treat the patient's delusions. This treatment requires a lot of persistence by empathizing with the patient and not giving into the delusion. Cognitive therapy along with antipsychotics have been successful.

8. Fregoli Delusion

You believe different people are one person who changes their appearance with disguises. How unusual is that? It's a kind of paranoia delusion where you can't trust the people around you. What a scary way to live? How does your brain even come up with this delusion? That's the real interesting question.

People with Fregoli delusion believe they are being persecuted by the person in multiple disguises. They also replicate objects, places, and events with inaccuracy. Symptoms include visual memory deficit, deficit in self monitoring, self-awareness, executive functions, cognitive flexibility, history of seizure activity, and hallucinations. Levodopa treatment, fusiform gyrus, and abnormal P300 are some of the causes of this delusion. When the delusion has been identified, pharmacotherapy comes right after. Antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants are great course of treatment for this delusion.

9. Cotard Delusion

You believe you're dead. If that's the case, then why can't you pass through objects. Oh right it's a delusional disorder. You may also believe that you don't exist or that you're immortal. It can be a dangerous way to live, but it's interesting how your brain can trick you into believing you're dead. No you're not a zombie from The Walking Dead but you can dream.

With Cotard delusion you believe you don't exist as a person. You also believe you are putrefying and have lost blood and internal organs. The main signs and symptoms of Cotard is the delusion of negation. The stages of the syndrome include the germination stage, the blooming stage, and the chronic stage. First psychotic depression and hypochondria occurs, then the syndrome appears along with the delusions of negation, and finally the delusions become more severe along with depression. Pharmacology treatments like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizing drugs have been successful as well as electroconvulsive therapy.

10. Reduplicative Paramnesia

The Truman Show movie covers this disorder pretty well. It's probably the most interesting disorder because you believe that a place has been identically made, or it has been moved to another area. For instance you may think that the house you're living in now is not the house you've been living in for a few years. You think you're in an identical house that is far from your original home, but that is not the case. How confusing is that? It's pretty abnormal, that's for sure.

Reduplicative paramnesia is rare and can occur from brain injury to the cerebral hemisphere and to both frontal lobes. People with stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, tumor, dementia, and other psychiatric disorders have been reported to have this disorder. It is thought that reduplicative paramnesia occurs when there's a disruption in the brain when it comes to memory and familiarity. It has also been thought that damage to the ventral stream of the visual system results in disorientation and poor memory integration in people with the disorder. Symptoms include confabulation, speech disorder, disorientation, denial of illness, autoscopy, heautoscopy, out of body experiences, and amnesia. There is no effective treatment for this disorder.